There is a fine line, the people I speak of, were not done with there academy yet, but knew they were being layed off, they attempted ti lateral before being layed off.
One individual, got on another department after he was layed off, but applied as a lateral....but Civil Service said that he couldnt lateral because he was already layed off, but.....yes confusing like civil service always is....could not be a lay off because the department did not go through the lay off list to get to him, at this point he is on the job 2 months...so his official title with Civil service was a Reinstatement...and I am not sure what reinstatements are,,,but he still has the right to go back to the orignial department that layed him off, 10 year rule.
The other individual was a straight lateral, needed special attention though through civil service, and the departments since he was layed off and has not worked a shift yet, and everything worked out and he is happy with the departments that has him.
Any specifics shoot me a PM, but it all can be done, if you want to be somewhere else and they want you, there is a way around it all